tuition

Wichita State University is in the process of changing its student fee structure to be more equitable.

Student fees pay for athletics and student services, and are currently calculated per credit hour. WSU wants to begin a flat-fee system where students pay fees based on the number of credit hours they take.

There would be three levels of student fees; all students in each level would pay the same amount.

WSU says the change will only impact student fees. Course fees, certain program fees and infrastructure fees will remain a per credit hour fee.

Kansas' state universities are calling for tuition increases of up to 5 percent, at least for now.

The schools submitted their tuition proposals Wednesday to the governing Kansas Board of Regents. But those came before Gov. Sam Brownback signed a budget bill Wednesday afternoon that cuts higher education funding by 4 percent, 1 percent more than the universities had expected.

The Kansas Board of Regents will consider proposed tuition increases at a meeting this week. Breeze Richardson, with the board, says this will be the final step in the process. Universities have spent the last few months developing and submitting their proposals.

“Those proposals were brought forth at last month’s meeting," Richardson says. "And then the final proposals will be presented tomorrow and voted upon.”